Forum
Population Aging in Africa:
The Present and Future of Health, Life and Care
Date: 24th, May, 2015
Venue: Inuyama International Sightseeing Center, Aichi, Japan
Population Aging in Africa:
The Present and Future of Health, Life and Care
Ken MASUDA, Nagasaki University
Japanese Abstract for JAAS Forum 2015
(Summary)
African countries expect the age of “population aging” in the second half of 21st century as a result of rapid population growth and improvement of health. This article attempts to review the literatures and policies, and point out issues to be examined in the future. Although some countries started new social welfare policies related to elderly life, there still remain issues to be considered, especially on health, medical service, care and support system. Studies on African aging have indicated anxieties, that is, lack of social protection, lack of medication for non-communicable diseases, aging among the urban poor, aging in rural, decline of family care. Ethnographic approach is expected to provide research materials and insights for exploration of appropriate social responses with a reference to local cultural context. Africanists are required to share the interest in future of African societies through learning from African communities, and taking experience of “trial and error” among the already-aged countries.
Article published in Afrika Kenkyu (Japanese) 2016
Disability and Healthy Life Expectancy in Africa
– An Analysis Using Census Data
Reiko HAYASHI, National Institute of Population and Social Security Research
Japanese Abstract for JAAS Forum 2015
(Summary)
The strong population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa brings also the increase of number of elderly. Using the disability statistics available through 19 Sub-Saharan countries’ census through IPUMS, it is revealed that the disability rate increases along with age, especially for the types of disability “seeing,” “hearing” and “physical,” in contrast with “speaking” and “mental” disability which does not change substantially along with age. Disability rate is lower for women than men and higher in rural area than in urban area. The trend over the past two to three decades is not consistent between countries. Using the obtained age-specific disability rate, disability-free life expectancy and disability duration was calculated for the Sub-Saharan countries and the rest of the world. The longer life expectancy, the longer the disability-free life expectancy as well as the disability duration. Sub-Saharan African disability duration is shorter than other regions of the world and the policies to extend the life span while co-existing with disability are needed.
Article published in Afrika Kenkyu (Japanese) 2016
Elderly People among the Pastoral Dodoth in North Eastern Uganda: Old Women’s Roles in a Matter of Life-and-death
Itsuhiro HAZAMA, Nagasaki University
Japanese Abstract for JAAS Forum 2015
(Summary)
This paper addresses the aging process of women in the social context based on fieldwork among a Nilotic pastoralist population in the Karamoja region of Uganda. Women identify as akimat (an old woman) after they stop having sex and reach menopause. The hallmark of their everyday life is cooperation between them and grandchildren where grandchildren living together with old women “become body” of old women. Grandchildren get intrinsic reward directly from living together and repossess knowledge and practice in their lives through treatment and care for the sick. Sharing with them the experience of surviving bereavement becomes extensive throughout everyday life. In contrast to what intergenerational reciprocity model implies, the independence and self-help is not only the framework to understand interaction including care of old persons. By standing on the same position to the Dodoth, who are conscious of direct tie between parties in the social fact that people live together, we can understand that holding oneself ready to sharing as action generating the place for living together is more radical principle than intergenerational reciprocity.
Article published in Afrika Kenkyu (Japanese) 2016
Growing Old and Their Way of Independence in Aari, Southwestern Ethiopia
Mariko NOGUCHI, Kyoto University
Japanese Abstract for JAAS Forum 2015
(Summary)
This paper aims to explore the daily lives of the elderly living in the Aari community in southwestern Ethiopia, describing the social relationships supporting their lives. Although some conventional studies mention the role of the elderly in household livelihood strategies, few studies have focused on their daily lives. In this paper, the author considered those conditions that determine the livelihoods and social relations of the elderly in the community, examining the daily interactions and mutual relationships among the elders and people within this context. The study confirmed that the elders’ living arrangements such as choices regarding where to live and who to live with are deeply related social norms. However, the author also observed cases in which some elders live with or receive support from those who do not belong to the category of persons who may take care of them. In situations that involve supporting a person’s livelihood or daily needs, relationships between persons who require help and partners are not always fixed. It isn’t also unusual that the elderly themselves help others. Rather, cooperative relationships emerge “responsively,” between those present and persons who require care, through talking and considering individual circumstances in the respective scenes.
Article published in Afrika Kenkyu (Japanese) 2016
Challenges to Promote Community-based “Mutual Cooperation” to Support the Elderly People in Urban Area of Zambia
Hideki YAMAMOTO, Teikyo University
(Summary)
Progress in public health have prolonged the longevity. Ageing has become the global issues in both developed and developing countries. In most of the African countries, the rural old people were caused by the young family member of the traditional extended family system. On the other hand, the old people in urban areas are facing difficulties to get support from their family. The community -based support system is needed in the urban areas. Lusaka was chosen as the target research area to explore the possibility to plan for the community based support system for the elderly. Series of workshops for the elderly residents and leaders of the CBO (Community Based Organization) were organized in March and August in 2015 at Chawama Township. In SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), Goals 3- “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” is related to the Global Ageing issues. For the sustainable development, the role of the community is crucial. The community based ageing program on “mutual cooperation” should be organized in Africa and other region through the active community participation.
Article published in Afrika Kenkyu (Japanese) 2016
